Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe, M.P.
Profession: Medical Doctor
Speeches 33 #131 of 225·#74 in party
Attendance 8/8 days present (of recorded)
Top topic Parliamentary Procedure 17 speeches
Last spoke 22 May 2026 in Debate
Activity by sitting
26 sittings · counts only, no scoring.
Topic focus
AI summary AI-assigned tags, 1–3 per speech. Counts only — not a score.
Speech history
33 speeches- 22 May 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe expressed condolences on the deaths of several former Members of Parliament, with an extended tribute to Hon. (Prof.) Tissa Vitarana. He outlined Prof. Vitarana’s contributions as a physician, virologist, research leader, university teacher, international consultant, LSSP leader, parliamentarian, minister, and former Governor, highlighting his role in disease control, vaccination policy, medical research infrastructure, science and technology initiatives, and public service. He also conveyed condolences to the families of Hon. Chandradasa Galappaththi, Hon. Nandana Gunathilake, Hon. S. C. Muthukumarana, Hon. Janak Mahendra Adhikari and Hon. T. Kanagasabai. Statements of Condolence: Six Former Members of Parliament Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 20 March 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe said the Government had already outlined its response to the current global situation through the President’s March 17 address, media briefing, and statement in Parliament, including its non-aligned foreign policy and plans to manage fuel, LPG, electricity, and essential supplies. He argued that Sri Lanka’s neutrality had received international recognition and that the main domestic risks from the external shock related to imports such as fuel, medicines, fertilizer, wheat flour, and cooking oil. He defended coal procurement procedures, saying quality issues were being handled through contractual remedies such as rejection, penalties, or replacement. He contended that stronger fiscal management in 2025 had improved Sri Lanka’s resilience compared with the COVID-19 and economic crisis periods. Adjournment Debate (Continuation): Effects of Current Global Situation on Our Economy Foreign AffairsPublic FinanceInfrastructure Read →
- 19 February 2026 AI summary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe supported the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill as part of the Government’s “Rata Ma Ekata – Iwath Wenu” anti-narcotics programme and the NPP policy objective of a drug-free country. He said the amendments would criminalize drug manufacture, possession and trafficking on the high seas and give the High Court jurisdiction over such offences, particularly to disrupt transfers from mother ships to smaller vessels. He linked the measures to wider proposals on surveillance, rehabilitation, education, community monitoring, asset seizure and international cooperation, citing drug flows through the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka’s use as a transit and redistribution point. Debate (continued): Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill and Judicature (Amendment) Bill Law & OrderJustice & Human RightsSecurity & Defence Read →
- 5 February 2026 AI summary The Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe briefly seconded the motion before the House. The question was then put and agreed to, followed by a change in the Chair with Hon. Upul Kithsiri presiding. Debate: Institute of Real Estate Professionals, Container Depot Operators Licensing, and Shipping Agents Licensing Bills (Second Reading) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 January 2026 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe presented two reports of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Media and Women's Empowerment. The reports covered annual and performance reports of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, Department of Government Information, Mass Media Division, Department of Probation and Child Care Services, and Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited for specified years, and were ordered to lie upon the Table. Opening and Speaker's Certificate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 3 December 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe expressed condolences over deaths and damage from the recent disaster, comparing it with the 2004 tsunami and commending coordinated action by the Government, officials, and the public. He outlined disaster management steps, including district and divisional coordination, NBRO-guided evacuations, health services in shelters, and measures to prevent disease outbreaks among displaced people. He said Kalutara District teams had been sent to Nuwara Eliya with rations, medicines, road-clearing support, and rescue assistance, and urged the public and media to avoid misinformation and politicization while supporting recovery and affected families. Debate: Continued Committee Stage of Appropriation Bill 2026 (Ministry Expenditure Heads - Multiple Speakers) Public FinanceInfrastructureLaw & Order Read →
- 22 November 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe supported the Health Ministry’s expenditure allocations, noting that the Ministry assumed office amid drug shortages, procurement delays, supplier issues and human resource gaps in hospitals. He outlined increased Budget provisions for health, including recurrent and capital spending, medical supplies, nutrition, disease prevention, research, staff development, Suwa Sariya and indigenous medicine. He highlighted primary care reforms through pilot “Suwaatha Centres”, efforts to strengthen staffing, and reforms at the NMRA and Medical Supplies Division, including clearing registration backlogs, recruiting officers, setting maximum retail prices for essential medicines, digitization, planned amendments to the NMRA Act and earlier planning of future drug requirements. Debate: Committee Stage - Heads of Expenditure 111, 210, 211, 220 and 308 (Health and Mass Media) Healthcare Read →
- 12 November 2025 AI summary (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe clarified that the Social Security Contribution Levy on vehicles is not a new tax but an existing levy to be collected properly at import, manufacture or sale. He detailed Budget allocations for fisheries infrastructure, harbour rehabilitation, fisher safety technology, fish catch improvement, satellite-based fishing ground identification, and inland fisheries, while rejecting Opposition claims of poor implementation of the 2025 Budget. He said most planned projects in the Horana DS Division would be completed by year-end and argued that the Government had stabilized the economy, advanced debt restructuring, expanded welfare and restarted development after taking office during an economic crisis. He cited acknowledgements by Opposition MPs on economic stabilization, exports, fiscal improvements and anti-corruption efforts to support the Government’s 2026 Budget direction. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate InfrastructureAgriculturePublic Finance Read →
- 12 November 2025 AI summary Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe moved that Hon. Chanaka Madugoda take the Chair, addressing the Deputy Chairperson of Committees. Appropriation Bill, 2026 - Second Reading Debate Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe supported the Health Ministry’s medicine price-control regulations, arguing that a transparent pricing formula is necessary because Sri Lanka relies heavily on imported medicines and patients cannot assess pharmaceutical quality or resist arbitrary pricing. He said the formula should account for CIF costs, levies, and supply-chain margins while ensuring timely access to safe, quality medicines at fair prices, particularly for chronic and emergency patients. He also called for expanded local manufacturing, stronger laboratory quality assurance, rational prescribing and public awareness, and continuous monitoring to prevent high out-of-pocket health costs. Debate: Regulations under National Medicines Regulatory Authority Act No. 5 of 2015 HealthcareCost of LivingPublic Finance Read →
- 21 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe presented the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Media and Women’s Empowerment’s report covering the 2022 annual reports of the State Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Corporation, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital and Postgraduate Medical Training Centre, and Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, as well as the 2024 Annual Performance Report of the Department of Government Printing. The reports were ordered to lie upon the Table. Presentation of Papers and Committee Reports Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe said the Government is implementing the pledges in its “A Prosperous Country - A Beautiful Life” policy statement, including measures against corruption, crime, drugs, and public service weaknesses. He cited independent tracking by PAFFREL, the March 12 Movement, and Verité Research across 1,333 policy actions, and referred to progress on PAYE tax reform through the Inland Revenue Act No. 2 of 2025, social protection payments, senior citizens’ allowances, chronic illness assistance, plantation wages, and ministerial rationalization. He rejected Opposition allegations of broken promises as unsupported and said the Government would continue implementing the programme while engaging with independent scrutiny. Adjournment Debate: Implementation of Manifesto - Final Speeches Public FinanceCorruption & Governance ReformCost of Living Read →
- 9 October 2025 AI summary A petition from Mr. P.A.D.A. Gunathilaka of Galle Road, Panadura, was presented to Parliament. Opening and Announcements Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 7 October 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe supported amendments to the 2013 anti-doping law implementing the UNESCO Convention, saying they would align Sri Lanka with international standards on sample collection, testing, education, research, and cooperation. He emphasized the need to reduce testing delays, expand awareness among athletes, coaches, medical personnel and teachers, and protect athlete health from the serious effects of doping substances. He warned that non-compliance could damage Sri Lanka’s reputation and lead to WADA sanctions affecting athletes’ participation and the hosting of international events. Debate: Convention Against Doping in Sport (Amendment) Bill - Second and Third Reading EmploymentEducationHealthcare Read →
- 12 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe paid tribute to the late Hon. Indradasa Hettiarachchi, highlighting his social service in Horana, including the development of the Yahalakale Elders’ Home and the Galpatha “Sukhitha” Children’s Home. He expressed condolences, requested that the Assembly’s sympathies be conveyed to Hettiarachchi’s family, and thanked several individuals who assisted in compiling the information for the tribute. Votes of Condolence: Late Former Members of Parliament (P. Dayaratna, Gamini Lokuge, Indradasa Hettiarachchi, M. H. Cegu Isadean, W. B. Ranatunga) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 12 September 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe expressed condolences on behalf of Horana, Kalutara and Raigam Korale for the late former MP Deshabandu Indradasa Hettiarachchi. He outlined Hettiarachchi’s political career from local government service in 1948 to representing Horana in Parliament, serving as Kalutara District Minister, Deputy Minister of Ports and Shipping, and Minister of Coconut Industries and Crop Diversification. He highlighted Hettiarachchi’s contributions to local development, including education, health facilities, bridges, housing, electrification, model villages, industrial parks, the cooperative movement, and religious and social initiatives such as the Kalutara Bodhi Trust and Janasetha Foundation. Votes of Condolence: Late Former Members of Parliament (P. Dayaratna, Gamini Lokuge, Indradasa Hettiarachchi, M. H. Cegu Isadean, W. B. Ranatunga) Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 9 September 2025 AI summary On behalf of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, Mass Media and Women’s Affairs, reports were presented on several 2021–2023 annual and performance reports relating to mass media, postal services, broadcasting, pharmaceuticals, medicines regulation, Ayurveda, and Vijaya Kumaratunga Memorial Hospital. Attention was drawn to delays caused by the Committee not receiving responses to audit observations, despite the audit reports being available. A request was made for the relevant Ministries to submit review reports addressing issues such as recurring accumulated deficits together with future reports to avoid repeated discussion of the same matters. Papers Tabled and Committee Reports HealthcareParliamentary Procedure Read →
- 19 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe defended the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill as a necessary measure to regulate existing gambling activity rather than expand it, rejecting Opposition criticisms over definitions, institutional independence, and the exclusion of the National Lotteries Board and Development Lotteries Board. He said the Bill would register and license operators, including online and ship-based gambling, require platform approvals, strengthen record-keeping and tax collection, and impose penalties for unlicensed activity. He argued that regulation is needed to prevent money laundering, criminal activity, corruption and political interference, protect minors and problem gamblers, and secure public revenue in the context of economic recovery and debt restructuring. Debate: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill, Public Debt Management Act Regulations, and Foreign Exchange Act Regulations Law & OrderPublic Finance Read →
- 7 August 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe informed Parliament that he accepted a petition from Mr. D.L.W. Gamage of Gangoda Road, Bellapitiya, Horana. Tabling of Reports and Petitions Parliamentary Procedure Read →
- 8 July 2025 AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Nihal Abeysinghe seconded the motion on employment for persons with disabilities, citing data indicating that a large majority remain unemployed despite having employable skills. He stated that the existing 3 percent public service employment quota for persons with disabilities is not being properly implemented and said the National People’s Power Government proposes increasing it to 5 percent. He also proposed better coordination among officials at Divisional Secretariats to identify and direct persons with disabilities into suitable employment. Adjournment Debate: Employment for Persons with Disabilities EmploymentWomen & Children Read →